Kildare V Monaghan. Qualifier Round 4. Saturday 24th July 3pm, Croke Park **Official Thread**.

Everyone seems to be against us,even the the teletext!!!!!! But they have gone against us in every game bar Leitrim, Im nervous now but Im sure Geezer knows what he is doing

I find it strange that none of the previews are mentioning the fact that Monaghan are missing their first choice fullback and centreback. That has to be a factor in our favour.

If we lose I'll be gutted, not even staying for the Dubs if it goes wrong, although the missus and the kids might overrule me!

Got my tickets last night, 2 adults & 2 kids for Cusack, 70 euros for stress and torment, I think I'll sit near the defibrulator just in case.........

Loads of Pints wrote:

Does anybody else get sick of all the talk about the future of the manager in the middle of championship football? thats what the silly season is for no?

Laois, micklow, galway mayo etc can afford to talk bullsh1t about their managers and what they did/do wrong, who should come in yada yada yada....cos they are out of the champ, WE arent!

we have three things that we should be worrying about for saturday, kildares 15-20 lads, monaghan, and where we are celebrating after. management jibberish can wait til september!

Outside of a few comments on this forum, I have not heard any talk about the future of the manager.

Kildare to win by 2-3 points. Smith will start and don't be surprised in Eoghan O'Flaherty starts as well but I think he's better coming off the bench.

The last time we met in the League these were the 2 teams.

Possibly 5 changes from the team that started that day against Monaghan in Clones, we are arguably stronger now than we were then.

I think we'll win but it will take one hell of a performance. But we've got it in us.

Teams and Scorers: Kildare: Shane McCormack, Hugh McGrillen, Kevin O'Neill, Alan McLoughlin, Mark Scanlon 0-1, Brian Flanagan 0-1, Michael Conway, Killian Brennan, Dermot Earley, Eamonn Callaghan 0-2, Padraig O'Neill 0-1, James Kavanagh 0-1, Ken Donnelly 0-1, Ronan Sweeney 1-1, John Doyle 0-3 (2f). Subs: Alan Smith 0-2 for J Doyle (yc), Morgan O'Flaherty for M Scanlon, Robert Kelly for K Brennan, Eoghan O'Flaherty for P O'Neill, Karl Ennis 0-1 for J Kavanagh.

Monaghan: Monaghan: Padraig McBennett, Dessie Mone, Darren Hughes 0-2, Dermot McArdle, Conor McManus, James Conlon, Gary McQuaid, Eoin Lennon, Vincent Corey, Dick Clerkin, Paul Finlay 0-1 (f), Damien Freeman, Mark Downey 0-1, Rory Woods 0-3, Tomas Freeman 1-4 (1-0p,3f). Subs: Gary McEnaney for G McQuaid, Stephen Gollogly for D Freeman, Raymond Ronaghan for P Finlay, Ciaran Hanratty for J Conlon, Paul McGuigan for C Hanratty, Stephen McAleer for M Downey.

Kevin O'Neill made one of the best goal saving tackles in that game......and got penalised in the process.

Killian breannans last game i think? If we ever win sam he should be the first to lift the cup.Its those guys who train just as hard but with little reward that derserve most credit in my opinion.Damien Hendy's also...unreal commitment if nothing else.

dont forget big willie!!!

Applauds Fionn's new picture.

Was sitting beside a few Monaghan fans that day and thaught they were a decent bunch.Definitely big into their football.Be interesting to see who the Dubs support in the last 5 minutes of our game if it is close.Surely 1 or 2 of them will have arrived at that stage

I think Monaghan are going to throw the kitchen sink at us in the opening minutes tomorrow. Banty might have his limitations tactically but he's a hell of a man to motivate a team and I expect Monaghan to come out all guns blazing to right the wrongs of last week.

Kildare will have to start better than they have been doing recently. If we start like we did last Saturday or like last year's Leinster Final we'll give ourselves too much to do. If we can get a bit of momentum going early on it might just take the sting out of Monaghan's backlash. It'll be tight and I don't think it'll be very pretty but I'm hopeful enough we can come out the right side of a nip and tuck type of game.

here's hoping for a win tomorrow,few drinks tonight,big tree around 1 tomorrow.
God know's after that.Up kildare...................Chat you all Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I suppose the best way to look at it is if Mcgeeney believes which he does that we have one of the best squads in the country and we can make a semi final,then we'll beat Monaghan tomorrow. If we're good enough we'll win simple as. I believe we're good enough,we have the momentum. Also if anyone read Keith Barrs comments I wouldnt get worried that guy has a personal vendetta against Kildare and is a first degree idiot,he's based his predictions on nothing. I think we'll get at them from the start,keep it tight and we'll be more fitter near the end and win by a couple of points, C'mon the lillies!

Best of luck to all the lads tomorrow. Lets get behind them

why does anyone care what someone predicts in the paper? Although I understand the frustration at not getting credit. But there was plenty credit last year and no silverware. The credit will come when they win something.

As for Geezer, there definitely are people, and I know a few who love Kildare and love their football - but let's put it this way; the pain of defeat would be greatly reduced by the opportunity to sew it into the manager.

I said it after the Louth game that he should stay on so obviously I think so now.

I think this game will be tight but if Kildare get a good start, they are the likelier to win with a bit in hand. I'm optimistic/confident but preparing for a battle

Ogie wrote:

why does anyone care what someone predicts in the paper? Although I understand the frustration at not getting credit. But there was plenty credit last year and no silverware. The credit will come when they win something.

As for Geezer, there definitely are people, and I know a few who love Kildare and love their football - but let's put it this way; the pain of defeat would be greatly reduced by the opportunity to sew it into the manager.

I said it after the Louth game that he should stay on so obviously I think so now.

I think this game will be tight but if Kildare get a good start, they are the likelier to win with a bit in hand. I'm optimistic/confident but preparing for a battle

agree a very tight game with only 1 or 2 points in it. good luck kildare hope we make most noise in croker tomarrow

MD wrote:

I suppose the best way to look at it is if Mcgeeney believes which he does that we have one of the best squads in the country and we can make a semi final,then we'll beat Monaghan tomorrow. If we're good enough we'll win simple as. I believe we're good enough,we have the momentum. Also if anyone read Keith Barrs comments I wouldnt get worried that guy has a personal vendetta against Kildare and is a first degree idiot,he's based his predictions on nothing. I think we'll get at them from the start,keep it tight and we'll be more fitter near the end and win by a couple of points, C'mon the lillies!

A ghost writer did that article for Barr.Jesus he can barely speak never mind spell his own name.When he does speak he sounds like quasimodo
Starting to shit it now .Team staying up in meath tonight hope they sleep better than i will.Get your money on smith for first goalscorer

It's a very hard game to call, before the Tyrone game Monaghan had impressed everyone and no-one could foresee that Ulster final capitulation. A lot of pundits are keeping faith with Monaghan which is fair but Senan Connell who tips Kildare brought out a stat on the Last Word tonight that no team since 2001 has won after losing a provincial final and having only 6 days to turn it around, that team by the way was Dublin. Senan also to his credit singled out Flynn and Callaghan as Kildare's two best players whereas the likes of Barr and Tommy Carr still roll out the tired cliche Kildare are too dependent on Doyle for scores etc etc..Senan needless to say tipped Kildare, as have the Hoganstand and Setanta in the Monaghan corner we have Tommy Carr, Keith Barr and RTE. RTE tipped Derry last week citing Kildare had only beaten weak sides but conversely said that Derrys win over weak sides had given them confidence Having seen Monaghan in the flesh last week I find it very hard to see anything but a Kildare win but it really is all on the day. Lets hope for a good hard game of football and may the best team win.

Carr, Barr and B. Flynn know football, they only speak the truth...
Seems they try get as many cliches into their articles/match previews as possible.
After all it is a game of 2 halfs tomoro...

"At the end of the day we have to set our stall out early doors and take each game as it comes. If we give it 110% and let the ball do the work we have a chance."

I reckon I could make a decent pundit if all you have to do is fit as many cliches as possible into a sentence.

If Kildare play to their ability which I don't think they have yet,
And Monaghan play to their ability we will win with a few points to spare.

However sport doesn't work like that and it's all on the day.
We're overdue a big scalp in Croker.
Best of Luck tomorrow to all.

Glad to see some of the earlier cockiness dissipating... If we win this it will undoubtedly be Geezer's best championship win with us to date, as it would be against a genuine top eight team in my book (which Derry no longer are). We haven't done that so far in his reign.
We can't afford our customary slow start, and I would much prefer Smithy to be in the first 15.
Massive, massive game, will take a performance similar to Tyrone and Dublin first halves last year to win it, please please God.
Up the Lilies.

come on kildare !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on the lilies...

Well first half of the double act accomplished, championship match won with a bit wait to spare, some fine amount of alcohol consumed in celebration last night, woke up this mornings feeling OK, passed the one eye test...one eye open at a time so the blinding light of an overcast, damp, humid Kildare morning doesn't do too much damage! Now for the tea and a heap of sugar before I go and root out the tickets!

Lads pass no heed what so ever to the crowd we have writing and spouting about our games. How many times do you think Connell, Carr, Flynn or Brolly have seen us play live? I'd guess not once. To me its time the Sunday game got an ex player from each of the playing counties to go head to head for each game with one neutral. Today you could have Ryan or someone chatting with a Monaghan past player with O'Rourke as the middle man. At least true ex players would have a bit of insight and be able to alert watchers to a new young lad starting or properly talk about tactics. They'd also have the added spice of wanting the team to win. That's when O'Rourke could step in and break up the fight and assess teams from a neutral point.

Anyhow, start as ye mean to go on lads, be first to every call, do the simple things well, let the ball do the work and keep focused...

Best of luck to all involved and all traveling to support. And supporters, as a slightly eccentric lady from Eastern England might say "let's be havin' you" Make yourselves heard and roar on our lads.

CILL DARA ABÚ